Index ob file



W. H. DAY

INDEX OR FILE Aug. 27, 1929.

2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed June 29, 1925 I I l I l/ lll/ll IIIIII; v

'IA 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIII Aug. 27, 1929. w. H. DAY

INDEJ ,0R FILE Filed June 29, *1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 z glto@ Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. DAY, 0Fl EAST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO REMINGTON RAND INC., 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

INDEX 0R FILE.

Application led .Tune 29, 1925.

rlhis invention relates to index devices of the class in which a series of index cards or reference members are arranged upon a carrying frame or in a drawer or similar supporting device in such a manner that a portion of each is exposed to view, one above the other, to facilitate ready reference thereto, the exposed portion being adapted to bear information regarding the nature of the data upon the remaining portion of the card.

More particularly, the invention relates to a corner-retaining member designed for application to a reference member or card, and adapted to removably support another card or the like thereon. Such a retaining member be applied to an index element of an equipment already in use or may be furnished with a new equipment as a part thereof. ln either case, the individual index elements of the equipment will be adapted by the addition of such members to detachably retain another card thereon, the margin `0f -which will ,be exposed to view when the original elements, now having become card holders, are arranged in the over-lapped relation above noted.

Various forms of card holders have been provided contemplating some of the features of the above desirable ones, among which are the forms shown in my co-pending applications No. 690,755, filed February 5, 192i and No. 24,765, ined April 21, 1925. The form embodying the features of this invention may be considered as an improvement over these preceding applications by having included in its structure, among others, the novel feature of being adapted to positively prevent the possibility of the corners of an overlying card holder engaging the edge `of the card-retaining member on the card holder next below. This feature is obtained by substantially enclosing the card holder corners at the free margin thereof, with a suitably formed corner member. It is desired that such a member be of such form that all of the advantages of the preceding forms be retained while at the same time increasing the convenience and efiiciency in the use of this type of index. It is also desirable that such a member be of such construction that the corners of the card holders will be protected against mutilation due to constant manipulation, while Serial No. 40,320.

tional cards thereon upon a surface thereof,

which will be inexpensive to manufacture and efliclent in use. l

Another object of this invention is to provide a card retaining means of such a form and construction that the same may be readily applied to an index element to adapt said element to removably retain another reference member or card thereon in such a manner that in some instances the side edges and one marginal edge of both will coineide.

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide as a new article of manufacture, a corner member for an index element used in indexes of this type, which may be readily applied to said element, and when so applied will protect the corner associated therewith against possible mutilation by preventing the possibility of the corner catching or engaging with the corner member of an underlying index element, while serving as a card retainer to hold another reference bearing member upon the index element.

Other objects of this invention which are improvements in devices of this character, will appear as the same is hereinafter' described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. Vl illustrates generally a supporting frame having a plurality of over-lapping index elements mounted thereon, embodying the features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of one of the index elements;

Fig. l is an enlarged front plan view of a corner of one of the index elements showing the preferred form of corner member;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged rear plan view of the corner member upon a card;

plustrating a feature of this invention, the

porting plate of a swinging leaf, or the dotted portion of this-ligure being the natural position of the sectioned portion when in use;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. at but showing another' modilied 'form or' corner member, the development et the same being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 12 is a rear view of a corner member similar to thatvshown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a section on line 13-13 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a development view of the corner member shown in Fig. 4, as stamped from a sheet of material;

Fig. 15 is a development view of the corner member shown in Fig. 7

Fig. 16 is a view of the preferred form et corner member after the same has been bent un from the stamping shown in Fig. 14, and before attaching the same to an index element, and

Fig. 17 is a front plan view of a somewhat modied form of indeX element adapted to detachably retain an additional card thereon, and embodying the features oi this invention.

yQlhe supporting frame 10 as illustrated in Fig. 1,co1nprises a base panel 11, which may be the bottom portion oi' a drawer, the supbase member of a tablet or panel. ln this instance, a flanged strip 12 is secured to the base 11. The flanged strip 12 is illustrated in order to provide retaining means for the .index elements 13, 'whereby they will be supported and retained upon the iframe 10. The index elements 13 are illustrated as being composed of two portions 14- and 15, hingedly connected together at 1G in any* suitable manner, such as by the spacedapartmembers 17 formed integral with both portions 14 and 15. The portion 14e of the indeX element 13 is provided with rearwardJ ly depressed tongues 18 and 19, adapted te engage the margin of an underlying element and to engage beneath the iianges 2O and 21 ofthe retaining strip 12 for the same pur poses and as described in the patent to liv ing Fisher No. 1,043,056 dated December 2li,

Although the index element 13 is illustrated as being of two parts 14 and 15 hingedly connected together, it is obvious that these particular features are not necessarily required but may be dispensed with under desirable circumstances, and that the two members may be made integral or ot one piece without the hinged connection. The elements 13 are illustrated as being suspended or down-hanging, but, of course, they might be directed upwardly it such position was desired.

Fach ot the index elements 13 is provided with a pair of card-retaining and corner- Jrotecting member 22, associated with the corners adjacent the tree margin thereof. This member may be formed as shown an 22 in 1 to G, inclusive, 10 and 16, from a. blank 22 Fig. 14, which is stamped out oil' sheet material, preferably thin sheet-metal; as shown at 24 in Figs. 7, 3, and 9, from a blank 24 Fig. 15; or as shown at 25 in Figs. 11, 12 and 13, from a blank 25a, shown in dotted lines oit Fie: 11. rFhe members 22, 2d and 25 are preierably pie'i" ii'1iiec'l from their respective blanks 22"', 2d and 25 before beingl secured upon the index element.

The member 22 is formed from the blank 22EL by bending the material of the blank about a radius on lines 26 and at an angle ot substantially L5 degrees to the edge 29 thereot, which causes the arm portions 2T te assume a position shown in Fig. 115, wherein they are spaced from the plate portion and extend beyond and substantially periniendicular to the edge 29. rlhe pointed ends 30 are then bent upwardly at right angles te the arms. 'lhe member is then slipped over a corner of the index element 13, which it readily embraces within the pocket formed between the plate 28 and the arms 2, and is properly positioned thereon by the enr j of the adjacent edges of the index ele ment with the handle 26 rllhe pointed ends 30 are then caused to pass through the material forming the index element and are bent over the surface thereoil toward the edge 29 and preferably pressed downwardly into the material. a slight amount below the surta/ce thereof.

rl`he bends 26 being made about a radius, being at right angles to each other and substantially meeting at 31, causes the under surface of the cerner member 22 at the corner thereof to form what will be termed riding edges which are curved trom 'the plane of the plate 2S diagonally rearwardly in respect to the index element .13, to the plane oi the arms 27. Due to the edges 33 of the blank 221l not being parallel with the edge 29, the riding edges diverge from each other, as shown in Fig. 5, and the above mentioned curve caused by the bends 2G will be a gradual one of substantially greater radius than the radius of the bend, as shown in Figs. 3, 6 and 10. The riding edges 32, therefore, provide the means which allows free movement of the corner of the index element over a shoulder, see Fig. l0, such as formed by the edge 29 and prevents an overlying card from catching thereon or being mutilated thereby.

- An index or file provided with index ele ments having the above-described corner members thereon, may have additional cards or sheets added thereto. For this purpose, the plate 28 and the arms 27 are spaced apart suiiiciently to allow more than one thickness of material to be placed therebetween. A card 3ft is shown mounted upon the index elements 13 by inserting the corners adjacent one of the margins thereof into the corner members 22 beneath the plate 28. The pointed ends of the corner members 22 being bent toward the edge 29 and pressed into ythe material of the index element, do not interfere with the insertion of the ad litional card 34 as no abrupt shoulder' is presented obstructing this action. Then the added cards 34 are of too great a breadth to be properly supported by the corner members 22 acting alone, a tongue or tongues 35 is provided for engaging the opposite margin thereof, the tongue or tongues 35 being usually struck from the material. forming the index element in any desired manner.

The modified form of corner member 2dsliown in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and l5, is formed in a somewhat similar manner as the member 22, previously described. The member 24, however, differs from member 22 in that the bends 36 do not substantially moet at the corner but are spaced apart as at 37, Fig. l5, at which point the edges 38 are joined by an arc. After assembly to an index element as above described regarding member 22, this form of corner member again bent forwardly on line 39, and therefore, presents a riding edge 49, more or less in a straight line, which extends angular-ly upward 'from the plane of the arms 27. The use, action and advantages of the member 24 are the same as those of member 22, and the parts thereof not specifically described are generally similar and are, therefore, designated in the drawings by the same reference characters. As will be noted by reference to the dotted lines in Fig. 9, the corners of the retained card 4l, however, do not extend into the pocket between the arms 27 and the plate 28 sufficiently to allow the edges and margins thereof to coincide with the corresponding portions of the index element without some alteration. It is, therefore, desirable, if this advantage is required, to trim olf the corner of the added card diagonally across the same. This same operation may be found desirable when using` the preferred form of corner member 22, except that in this case the index element may be trimmed as at 42, Fig. 5, so that the added card 34 will have free access to the corner of the corner member 22, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6.

The modified form of corner member 25, shown in Figs. l1, l2 and 13, is formed from a rectangular shaped blank 25n of which portions i8 form the arms, and portion il the plate. The arms i3 are bent over an arc along the lines L l5 which are at an angle of substantially degrees to the ed lo and at right angles to each other, substantially meeting at a point al? which is the corner of the corner member 25. ln this instance the edges i8 ol the arms 413, form riding edges i9 for the corner member. An ear 50 is provided in each arm portion 13, which is adapted to be inserted through the material of the index element 5l and turned over upon the surface thereof toward the bend 45. Due to the edges 48 being substantially parallel and approximately in contact when the corner member 25 is applied to an index element, the riding edge i9 is curved more sharply than the corresponding edge of the preferred form. This is not a disadvantage, however, and this form of corner member, in so far as its operation and use are concerned, is substantially the equivalent of the preferred form although not being quite so easy to apply, as the material-engaging means, the ears 59, are in a more or less inconvenient position and, therefore, not as readily accessible.

rlhe modified form of index element shown in Fig. i7, differs from the preferred form shownV in Fig. l, mainly in that the corners 6l and 62 of the added card (il) oi positie the cornersl engaged by the corner members are passed through diagonal slits provided in the material of the index element instead of the margin thereof being engaged by a tongue, such as 35 of the preferred form.

From the above description it may be seen that the invention has provided an index element having all of the advantages contemplated, and that a novel corner member has been provided readily adaptable to the uses desired thereof, and which may be fur nished either as a separate article of manufacture for application to already existing index elements, or which may be applied to a series of such index elements before the same are furnished as a complete index equipment.

rlhe corner member in all forms above described provides what may be termed a triangular-ly shaped corner pocket, having sides disposed at right angles to each other. The pocket is open at the side thereof which is opposite the right angle for the reception of the corner of an index element. After the member is applied to an inoex element, a card holder is formed having a triangularly shaped pocket at a corner thereof having an opening therein disposed diagonally across the corner of said index element to receive a lli corner of an additional card or the like. The corner of the added card may be inserted in the pocket formed l etWeen the cerner member plate portion and the index element either in a perpendicular' or horizontal direction, and when received therein Will be retained against lateral or longitudinal movement therefrom by tl e closed sides of the pocket so formed by the radius bends above described. ln the preferred form the edges Aforming the corner ot the added card Will coincide 'ith the corresponding edges ot the index element whereby the horizontally disposed dge oi the added card Will cover the exposed margin oi the index element and be readily7 viewed, so that the data contained thereon may be noted.

l/Vhile I have illustrated and described certain preferred terms of my invention, l do not limit myseliE to the exact details shown, as many other modifications and variations are possible which Will lie Within the spirit oil' the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What l claim is:

l. ln an index or tile ot the class described, an index element having a corner-protecting member secured thereto, said member' comprising a plate-like portion adapted to cover a corner et said element, and a pair of arms adapted to engage respectively the edges oi said element adjacent the corner thereoil and to extend over the opposite surface of said element, said arms terminating beyond said plate-like portion in pointed ends, said ends being adapted to be secured to said index element to retain the corner member in position.

2. ln an index or le, a pair of reference members in superimposed relation With the side edges and a marginal edge of one coinciding with the corresponding` edges of the other, and means securedv to one adapted to detachably retain the other thereon, said means comprising a preformed member having a triangular shaped plate portion provided with a pair ot arm members secured to two edges thereof, said arm members extending toward the third side of said plate portion and spaced thereit'rom, said arm members and plate portion engaging oppo site outer faces oifA said reference members.

3. In an index or le, a pair of reference members in superimposed relation with the side edges and a marginal edge o' one coinci with the correspomling edges or the other, and means secured to one adapted io detaehably retain the other thereon, said means comprising a pre-formed member having a plate portion and a pair of arms spaced theret'rom, said plate portion and said arms engaged over opposite sides of said reference members, and connecting portions between said arms and plate portion beyond adj acent edges oi said reference members.

4. fr reference member for an index or lile, having card-holding mea; s secured thereon whereby said reference member is ca )able oi detachably supporting a card7 said means comprising a pre-'formed member having a triangulaiplate portion positioned in coincident relation with a corner of said reference member and spaced therefrom to term a fare-receiving pocket, and a pair oil arms extending ifroni tvvo edges of said plate portion beyond the side and marginal edges et' said reference member and into spaced parallel relation with the plate portion and secured to the back of the reference member for retaining said plate portion in spaced relation to the front thereof.

In Witness whereof, l have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of June, 1925.

VVILLAM H. DAY. 

